When eating clean, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice having sweet treats of goodness! I think that is a misconception many people have. But I am here to tell you, you can eat healthy and actually enjoy it! I wanted to share one of the 5 different protein ball recipes that are in my Winter Clean Eating Program. These are gluten and dairy free and loaded with superfoods that are excellent for your body. Hope you enjoy! Makes 8-12 balls, or barsIngredients:6 tablespoons Sunbutter4 tablespoons cacao (or unsweetened cocoa)2 tablespoons coconut oil1 tablespoon ground flax seeds, chia seeds OR almond meal (I used almond meal with these in the picture)1 scoop pea protein or hemp protein (if you don't have this, just leave out)1 tablespoon raw honey (local, if possible)pinch of sea saltwater (as needed)shredded coconutCombine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir and slowly add water until you get the desired consistency of your ball (about 6 tablespoons, or less). Mold the dough into little balls and place them on a cookie sheet or parchment paper. If you want to make bars, place in a square pan and spread evenly and sprinkle coconut on top. For balls, roll each one into a bowl of shredded coconut. You may also want to dust them with more cacao for an extra boost of antioxidants! Eat these right away or freeze them for 10-15 minutes. Store in a cool place if you don't eat them all!

I read somewhere recently about baking cabbage and thought that sounded like a great idea! I love taking veggies and baking them in the oven for the crisp and crunchy flavors. I could not remember where I heard or saw this recipe, so I created it on my own. It was very easy and very cheap to make! The end result tasted like butter and it just melts in your mouth. Not bad for a healthy food!

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 head of cabbage

* Extra Virgin Olive Oil

* Fresh garlic cloves (3-4)

* Sea Salt & Black Pepper

DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Take the cabbage and peel off the dirty layers on top. Then set the cabbage up on its end and cut 1 inch or thinner pieces from the top down. Don't go too thin or it will break apart. Take your garlic and mash it down then spread all over both sides of the cabbage. Then drizzle olive oil over both sides...it doesn't take a lot. Sprinkle salt & pepper on both sides then place on a non-stick baking sheet. I did not need to spray the baking sheet as the olive oil kept it from sticking.

Place baking sheet in the oven for 25 minutes on one side, then flip over and cook for another 25 minutes. Ovens vary greatly so make sure to check on them the first time you cook them so you don't over do it. When the outside edges are brown and crispy, they are ready.Serve hot & enjoy!

Today I want to share further information about cleanse, detox, toxins, clean eating and the basics of an elimination diet. I get asked these questions often and want to help you understand what all this really means for you and your health. What is the difference between a cleanse and a detox?Both detox and cleanse focus on bringing your body into perfect balance, or homeostasis, where the organs self-regulate to keep the body’s internal environment stable. A detox focuses on releasing toxicity from metals, chemicals found in cleaning products, cigarette smoke, food and drink, etc. from the body, sometimes from specific organs and/or the blood stream. A cleanse focuses mainly on cleansing the organs on a deeper level and removing unwanted wastes that accumulate in the colon, digestive tract, and liver that can lead to disease or gut imbalances such as candida, parasites and unwanted pathogens.In my Winter Clean Eating Program, Eat to Nourish, we are combining the principles of both a detox and a cleanse. Often a cleanse goes deeper into the organs and can include some fasting or a liquid diet for a short amount of time, but I do not believe you need to take this approach to get results. We are ditching the fasting, the pills, and the powders, and focusing instead on improving your digestion. You will only eat whole, seasonal foods that are designed to support your body’s natural processes of detoxification and cleansing. What is a toxin? A toxin is any substance that can be harmful to the body, causing allergies, intolerances, sensitivities, bloating, digestive upset, or an overall feeling of sickness. These can be from eating harmful foods, using toxic loaded personal care products and even the air we breathe. You cannot escape toxins permanently, but you can work to cleanse/detox your system from them.

What is clean eating?This is a phrase that has become very popular in the past five years. Clean eating is a way of life. By avoiding foods that are processed or refined, which may contain nitrates, chemicals, and pesticides, you reduce your exposure to free radicals that can harm your system and cause disease. By choosing ingredients in their most natural, whole state, including clean animal- or plant- based proteins, and preparing them in healthy fats, you reduce inflammation in your body, balance your pH levels, and improve vitality.What is an elimination diet?An elimination diet, such as this program, aims to uncover hidden food allergies and sensitivities and improve your digestion by discovering which foods are right for your body. You eat amazing, whole foods for a week then slowly introduce foods afterward. Your body will tell you what works and what doesn’t. By cleaning out your digestive system and balancing it with whole foods, you are getting a clean start to finding out any hidden food sensitivities.

I hope this helps to clarify some of the terms associated with my programs. There is not much better than knowing how to eat correctly for your body. It is truly amazing! For more information on how to get started: Winter Clean Eating Program

I started drinking coffee in college during all-night study sessions cramming for tests. We would all meet at Denny's where we paid about $2 and could drink as much of this caffeinated goodness that our stomachs could hold. I remember going to class the following morning with major shakes and it's a wonder I ever graduated! The best part of those times was hanging with my friends "studying" and doing way more chatting and coffee drinking than anything. We actually made it fun and looking back, I feel sorry for the waiters that had our table that we would occupy for hours on end with only enough money to pay for the essentials...coffee.After graduation, I began working at Dell Computers which was my first "real" corporate job. And it wasn't just 9-5, it could sometimes be 7am to 7pm. It was crazy those first few years as the company grew and I was making plenty of money to make up for all the extra hours worked. However, I was tired ALL THE TIME! Then Dell had a fabulous idea...they put a STARBUCKS in our building. It was just a short flight of stairs down to all the coffee, cream and sugar that your heart could desire. And this is when the real habit began.

I would stop at 7-Eleven on the way to work for a huge cup of their coffee and finish it within the first hour of my day. When the mid-morning crash started, I would get a coffee from downstairs at the office. And of course, the afternoon crash was even worse so I would head down again to grab another cup to tide me over until it was time to go home. And I did this every single day. I worked there for ten years and we had our "coffee" groups that would go down and grab our cups together while discussing whatever was happening that day: who's underwear was showing, who came in late, who came back from lunch looking like they got high in the parking lot... and other real important manager stuff. It became a habit. A real habit that was not ever going to break. I look back to that time in my life and I remember dealing with major stomach issues almost daily, including horrific heart burn and acid reflux, among other icky ailments. It makes sense now: I was eating junky food and fueling myself with caffeinated beverages through each day so I could wake up and do it all over again. About a year and a half ago I went to a doctor that ran the food sensitivities test on me. I had no idea what to expect when the tests came back, but for some reason, I was shocked at the results. There at the very tippy top of my list of the "foods" I was most sensitive was COFFEE! How was this possible? I loved coffee, it helped me wake up every day. It helped me, not hurt me. I owned two Keurig machines, just in case the unfathomable happened and one didn't work. I was ordering at least $100 a month on those little k-cups. Coffee was my #1 offender and causing many of my issues...I just couldn't grasp this information. As I drove home and thought more about it, it did start to make sense. I was starting each morning with a hot beverage that didn't work with my system. And it was down-hill from there. I decided it was worth a shot to quit coffee after seeing the results on paper.That was the last day I drank coffee. Just like that; I quit cold turkey. I felt I had to in order to save my digestive system. and so began my search for alternatives. At the beginning, I would have hot tea instead and I still enjoy hot herbal tea at least once a day. The changes after eliminating coffee were almost immediate...besides that blaring headache that came from the withdrawals. Luckily those went away after a few days. So for me and my body, coffee wasn't working. I missed it greatly at the beginning but now that I have been coffee-free for over a year, I don't even really think about it anymore. I tell my clients that are heavy coffee drinkers with any sort of stomach issues to slowly begin weaning off of it. I recommend cutting it down by 1/4 a day. So they will have a cup in the morning and instead of the second, I urge them to have a big glass of water. Many people that drink coffee all day are pretty dehydrated. And for those that don't want to give it up for good (which is fine if your stomach tolerates it), I recommend buying a high quality, organic coffee to enjoy. One of my favorite teas that fill that dark roasted coffee need is Dandy Blend. It is incredible and can be a great way to wean yourself down from any coffee habit. It tastes like coffee but is actually a tea and it is gluten free. So if you are experiencing any kind of heart burn, acid reflux or other digestive issues, I would recommend cutting out the coffee and see how you feel. You might be shocked, as I was, at how much better I feel without it!

"When our bodies become toxic, it means that our natural means of ushering out metabolic waste from a normal human metabolism, environmental pollution, and what has become known as the Standard American Diet (or SAD diet) have exceeded the threshold for what the body's innate detoxification system can tolerate on its own. With this toxic load, every system in the human body can become affected. From our head to our toes and everything in between, toxicity makes us sick!" --Dr. Mark Hyman, Functional Medical Doctor & Teacher

Cleansing and eating "clean" is such an important and productive process for your body. Our bodies need to clear out the built-up waste in our systems to leave you feeling lighter and cleaner. Some people do a detox or cleanse in order to lose weight, but it is so much more than that. Sure, it will result in weight loss but it will also improve your digestion, improve your metabolism, uncover any hidden food allergies and decrease inflammation. Inflammation is at the root of all major, and minor, illnesses. These are things such as chronic colds, brittle nails, hormonal imbalances, dry skin, dry hair and constipation...just to name a few! Every food you consume, every breath you inhale and everything you touch each day brings contaminants. This constant barrage forces your liver to work hard to detoxify your body daily. There is no way to avoid these toxins so our bodies have to work that much harder to process them. When we stop and give the body a rest by eating whole, clean foods, your body will naturally detox and reset itself. This will leave you feeling amazing! So why is detoxing in the Fall a good thing? For starters, it prepares your body for the winter months both physically and emotionally. It helps to prevent common winter illnesses and attaining a clearer and more focused mental state. We could all use that, right? Our bodies tend to build up toxins over the summer months of heat that can lead to coughs, migraines and stuffy noses in the coming weeks. Fall is a wonderful time to slow down and move the focus inward, purging the toxicity that is keeping us from being the best version of ourselves. It is similar to the trees losing their leaves; you are shedding what is no longer serving you as you ready yourself for the coming cold months. During a Fall Cleanse or Detox, we honor the lungs and the large intestine. LUNGSPhysical: Optimal delivery of oxygen. Supports healthy immune system and good digestion. Preventative against colds and winter congestion. Emotional: Release feelings of sadness and prevent the "winter blues."LARGE INTESTINEPhysical: Cleanse and support for healthy functioning, better support of the immune system and optimal digestion.Emotional: Release negative emotions that are not serving the body well. Letting go.Hopefully this helps to understand why cleansing in the Fall is so vital and important to our health in the coming winter months. It really is essential to keeping your immune system up and running at its best to protect you!My first Fall Clean Eating Group Program began today and we have an amazing group that are committed to cleansing in a fun, healthy way. That group is now closed but the second group is now open for registration and will begin November 4th. In addition, if you are looking to get started on your own schedule, there is a DIY option available as well. I highly recommend joining in this Fall with my incredible program and support the entire step of the way. You will be so glad you did!

By now almost everyone has heard about gluten but many may not understand why all the buzz. Well, I am going to break it down for you today! Gluten is a protein complex found in wheat, including kamut, spelt, barley and rye. Having a diet free of gluten is the only real treatment option for those with Celiac Disease. The number of people with Celiac is fairly small, but there is a very large population that are gluten intolerant. This means that consuming foods containing gluten can cause all kinds of side effects, not all related to stomach aches. You can test for gluten sensitivity as well as for Celiac. If you feel you might be sensitive, the easiest, and cheapest way is to take all gluten out of your diet for a week and see how you feel. Most people find the results to be incredible! We do this in my 7 Day Clean Eating Program and I love hearing all the incredible success stories from my clients as they go through the program. If you are interested, click here for more information and to sign-up!The main problem with gluten is that it causes inflammation, and if you have been following me long enough, you know that inflammation is at the heart of almost every major illness that could affect us. So what foods are naturally gluten-free? Here's a quick list:

Potatoes

Buckwheat

Oats (must be labeled gluten free to avoid cross contamination)

Rice

Quinoa

Amaranth

Teff

Millet

Beans

Nuts and nut butters (yum!)

Eggs

Fresh fruit

Fresh veggies (of course!)

Herbs and spices

and many more!

Here are foods to avoid if you are trying to cut out gluten:Anything with Wheat, Kamut, Spelt, Rye, Barley, Modified food starch, oats (generally avoided as they are almost always processed in mills that process grains containing gluten) and barley enzymes. Barley enzymes are found in almost all breakfast cereals. Here are a few tips to avoid cross contamination:

Clean out cutlery drawers; they are great crumb collectors

Replace old wooden spoons and cutting boards

Wash dish rags/sponges frequently

Use a new toaster for gluten-free foods only or buy toaster bags (do not use a toaster that’s already been used to toast regular bread)

Use squirt bottles for condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, jelly, etc. to avoid contamination

Mark containers with "GF" on the lid of gluten-free items.

Clean food prep areas

Dedicate shelves and cabinets in your kitchen and refrigerator to "gluten-free food only”

Cleansing/Detox: Are you a little tempted to try it? Do you wonder about it?Cleansing has become very popular lately which is great that it is getting the exposure it needs. We are all carrying around 5-7 pounds of toxins that are making us sick!WHY?If you eat a lot and only eliminate once a day or worse (LESS!!!!) then you are not getting rid of all that is going in! If we are clogged up (even with a healthy diet) then we get sick. Our colon gets crusted over from eating meat, dairy, breads, processed foods, cakes, candy and bad fat. It is just gross, think of all the fried foods and weight you are still carrying around with you and what is building on it. The intestine draws in needed nutrients for the body and if your intestines are not able to get the nutrients, your food is wasted. If food doesn’t move easily through the intestines, then it starts to build up and we become constipated, cramped, gain weight, become depressed and our immune system quits working and we ultimately become sick. Are you depressed? Has your doctor ever prescribed colonic treatment as a cure? I doubt it! Our belly has serotonin receptors, the build up and sickness in our belly can cause depression. If you are not convinced by now that you need to clear some of the goo away, there is more. Our stomach produces mucus to guard against acids, this is healthy. It is when we continually eat McDonalds and Burger King that we overproduce the stuff and it all gets clogged up…ick. Along with eliminating daily waste, our body has the job to defend itself against toxins. The normal detoxification process is pretty amazing:

Toxins enter the blood.

Antioxidants grab them and neutralize them and move them to the liver.

The liver takes the toxins and gives the antioxidants back to circulate.

The liver neutralizes and either eliminates the toxins either through feces, sweat or urine or it turns the toxin into a more toxic compound.

It is the hormones, artificial flavoring and coloring that are added to processed foods that causes the liver to turn the toxins into bigger and badder toxins. Eating a diet fresh and whole, along with avoiding the type of toxins we breathe in will help to eliminate #3 from happening. By taking in all these toxins, we create a problem that our body was not designed to deal with. So, by now you should be convinced that our bodies need help.HOWThere are different ways to detox and cleanse your body. Some are very natural, non controversial and extremely healthy. Some may seem extreme and others are simple. How you choose to cleanse is important. Different cleansing aids:

Eat clean

Glowing Wellness Guided, Simple Cleanse!

Wheatgrass

Green Juices & Green Vegetables

Apples

Garlic

Lemons, Limes and Oranges

Omega 3 Oils

Green Tea

Mung Beans

Take enzymes

Food combining

Probiotics

Enemas

Colon irrigation (professional)

Magnesium

Kits with powders and potions (too expensive and not as healthy as eating real food)

On Enemas and Colon Cleansing This is the controversial part. The Mayo Clinic says “don’t do it”. However, colon cleansing is prescribed more and more by doctors looking for a more holistic approach to wellness. If you are planning to do an enema or colon cleanse, go to a good and well-trained colon hydro therapist. Colon cleansing could possibly have an effect on the nervous system. The reflexes in the bowel affect the nervous system. There is no debate that a lot of symptoms that are caused by being constipated can be relieved with colon therapy. Colon cleansing can be achieved with processed powders and liquid potions. You take some supplements used for colon cleansing by mouth or through the rectum. These products help the colon to expel its contents. There is no evidence that they have any long term benefit of building immunity or repairing the body’s systems. Colon cleansing with colon irrigation. The irrigation works like an enema. There is no odor or discomfort if you have a good hydro therapist. You lay down on a table and a low-pressure pump or a gravity-based reservoir flushes several gallons of water through a small tube inserted into your rectum. The therapist sits with you the entire time. After a while, the therapist might massage your belly to loosen things up a little. This process comfortably flushes the fluid and waste through. It usually takes about an hour. Most colon hydro therapists suggest regular visits. Maybe once a month for a while and then progressing to once every other month. You should always drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration after as well as taking probiotics to restore good bacteria and wheatgrass (and because I think you should have wheatgrass with everything!) Many doctors say your digestive system and bowel naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria — your body doesn’t need colon cleansing to do this. Those who like colon cleansing, think that toxins cause many health problems, like arthritis, allergies and asthma. They believe a colonic or a colonic irrigation —removes toxins and strengthens your immune system. You are the only one who can decide whether this type of cleansing is right for you. You should not use colonics if you have Crohn’s disease, IBS, acute diverticulitis, pregnancy, or diarrhea or if part of your colon has been removed.

If you are ready to safely and effectively release the toxins that are built up in your system while eating amazing foods, please sign up for my detox here:

Michelle Bland

My mission as a Certified Health Coach is to make the world a happier, healthier place, one person, one meal at a time, with love and gratitude. I work to inspire others to live a life of prevention and overall wellness!